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Kuantan Airport |
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Kuantan Airport is known officially as the Sultan Ahmad Shah Airport, named after the current Sultan of Pahang.
It is located about 15 kilometers from Kuantan, the capital of Pahang Darul Makmur.
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At first sight, this airport looks rather small, quiet and empty compared to the airports of the big cities of Malaysia like Kuala Lumpur and Penang, for instance.
However if based on local Malaysian standards, the airport can said to be quite busy, as everyday there are at least three flights by Malaysia Airlines Berhad (or "MAS" in short) to and from Kuala Lumpur.
Direct and connecting flights from MAS overseas destinations like London, Paris and Frankfurt are also frequent, with daily arrivals and about 5 times a week for departures.
In fact there are direct and connecting MAS flights from Paris- Charles De gaulle Airport, London’s Heathrow and Frankfurt (Germany) to Kuantan.
They are made up of guests of Club Mediterannee at Cherating, and tourists going to Pahang and the east coast states, and the many expatriates working in Kuantan and its vicinities.
Usually international flights make a stop-over in Kuala Lumpur for customs and immigration checks before proceeding to Kuantan.
(P.S. -- Do check the latest schedules and flight times on this. You will find the Malaysia Airlines on-line website below very useful if you wish to check on latest schedules of MAS flights around the world, or to make a booking.)
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OPENING OF KUANTAN AIRPORT TERMINAL BUILDING
This Kuantan commercial aviation center was in existence since the 1960s.
The new terminal building was officially opened by HRH the Sultan of Pahang, Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah on the 27th of October 1992 (or 1st of Jamadilawal 1413 Hijrah).
Extensions for longer landing tracks and lanes and upgrade of the airport were notably made in the late 1970s with the location of Club Mediterranee at Cherating and completion of the Hyatt Hotel Kuantan, to cater for the greater influx of foreign tourists to the state.
Newer hotels and resorts have now sprouted in and around the beaches of Pahang.
The strong business and economic growth and the location of commercial ventures and industries in the industrial estates situated around Kuantan and the generally growing population in the town also saw the need for better aviation facilities there.
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KUANTAN AIRPORT’S CAPACITY
The airport can actually handle up to a million passengers per year. In 2005, Kuantan airport handled about 299,000 passengers on 3,500 flights.
There are ample car-parks at the airport with rather cheap hourly rates (it was RM2.00 per hour when I was there recently).
Although small, this Sultan Ahmad Shah terminal building contains some small lots and counters for retail shops, souvenir shop selling local batik and handicrafts, travel and tour agencies, resort hotels and taxi services.
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MALAYSIA AIRLINES SCHEDULES
Malaysia Airlines (or "MAS") is Malaysia's premier airlines company with more than 100 planes servicing not only the domestic market but also the world.
And it has won several awards for excellent services.
If you want to make bookings or find out about flights and schedules to Kuantan or anywhere else, do check with the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) website here.
Enjoy your flight!
As always, from me...
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